Pages

Wednesday, 3 February 2016

21 Day Fix Review

I made it through the 21 Day Fix program for my first time! I just wanted to share a couple thoughts in case anyone else is interested in it and looking for feedback.

As I mentioned in this post, the 21 Day Fix is a kickstart exercise regime with a meal plan that lasts for 21 days. This was my first time ever trying a "formal" exercise program. So, here's my review:

Workouts
First off, I LOVED the workouts! I actually found this was the easiest part of the program to commit to. There was a workout every single day (no breaks!) but some were lighter than others. I think I missed a total of 3 workouts during the program, due to being sick and being away on a mini vacation. Other than that, I pushed myself every day and I am so glad I did. Since the workouts are only 30 minutes long, I found it super easy to fit into my schedule. Most days I was able to complete them while the kids were napping (and do the dishes/laundry), and a few times I waited till they were in bed and still was able to push myself since it was only 30 minutes. The workouts were challenging but I felt myself getting stronger ever day, which was great motivation.Meal Plan
Sticking to the meal plan was, by far, the hardest part of this challenge. Surprisingly, I was actually able to cut out sugar pretty quickly and didn't notice a huge lack. It was the carbs that were hardest for me to minimize, and especially the snacking carbs before bed. Seriously, that container for carbs is the smallest little box I have ever seen! I must say, I cheated more on the meal plan than I would like to admit... but I still ended up eating way more healthily than I would have otherwise. The great thing about the meal plan is that I was not left hungry! Well, the first few days I felt hungry a lot, but once my body adjusted I actually was able to feel fully satisfied with the food that I ate. I also found that I started to enjoy food a lot more.

Accountability
Having an online accountability group was another awesome aspect of this program. I didn't realize how much it would help me but it honestly encouraged me to check in every day and take the challenge seriously. One evening I was even sitting on the couch ready to give in for the night, but a prompt from a friend in the group spurred me on to do a workout before bed. Results
My results were not as grand and drastic as I maybe initially hoped, but after thinking about it I am really happy. I didn't lose any weight according to the scale, but I lost about 6 inches total around my body (roughly 1 inch around my arms, belly, hips and thighs and calves). What was most obvious was the before/after pictures where I can see a clear difference in the shaping of my body. I also could tell how much more strength I had gained by doing the workouts in the last week and noticing how much better I was at doing the exercises. I think that if I did the program again and followed the eating plan more seriously I would notice even more results.

Conclusion
In conclusion, I was actually surprised at how much I enjoyed doing the 21 Day Fix challenge. The meal plan was tough to adjust to, but doable and the exercises were perfect to fit into my life. When I first received my package I initially felt like the price was too high for what I received. For only a 3-week program, I do think it is steep, but if you plan to go through the challenge more than once, it actually is a great deal. I paid (with shipping), $100 for the accountability group, meal plan and ideas, and workout videos. I plan to go through the exercises over the next 3 months at least, so that only works out to about $35/month for my at-home "gym" membership.

So there you have it! Has anyone else tried the 21 Day Fix? What did you like/hate about it?